Posted by Cam W. on April 7, 2000, at 6:44:43
In reply to Do GABA supplements potentiate benzodiazepines?, posted by Paul on April 7, 2000, at 5:20:53
Paul - With regard to GABA agonists increasing the effects of benzodiazepines. Possibly, if these GABA supplements are direct GABA agonists. Benzos do not directly stimulate the GABA receptor (as agonists would) but facilitate the binding of GABA to the receptor. In other words, benzos alter the shape of the GABA receptor, allowing GABA to bind to (and thus stimulate) the receptor easier. The GABA receptor is a chloride ion channel, that when opened by GABA's binding, allows the influx of chloride into the cell. This hyperpolarizes the cell, making it even harder for an electrical signal (action potential) to travel (propagate) down an axon. In essence, calming or stabilizing the neuron, making it harder for that neuron to fire. Benzos do depend on the presence of GABA to work.GABA supplements should work without the presence of benzos, but getting an agonist across the blood brain barrier is no easy feat. I do not believe that there are any GABA agonists being used successfully in clinical situations (at least not routinuely)(This is off of the top of my head - I could be wrong).
Paxil may decrease the effectiveness of opiates (esp. codeine) by stopping codeine's conversion to morphine in the body. This conversion is what gives codeine it's pain-killing effects. I do not know how true this is, clinical, but it is seen in vitro (in experimental situations). Also, codeine is partially metabolized by the cytochrome system (CYP3A3/4), so other SSRIs (Luvox, Prozac and Serzone) 'may' theoretically increase the effect of codeine. I do not believe this to be clinically significant, though.
Hope this helps - Cam W.
poster:Cam W.
thread:29170
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000401/msgs/29172.html